TAPT History

TAPT History

Conference 1997

The twenty-fourth annual TAPT Conference and Equipment Show was held at Camino Real Hotel and Convention Center in El Paso, Texas, June 13-18, 1997. The slogan for the conference was "The Journey is . . .Education", a direct reference to school Transportation being an integral part of the Public Education process.

The year:

Planning for the ’97 Conference started in Hurst Texas as the Executive Committee met and outlined the goals and objectives for the El Paso meeting. Assignments were handed out and the group looked forward to a successful year.

During the latter part of the school year the President Elect, Ron Anderson, resigned due to personal conflicts and the Executive Committee decided to fill the position with Fred Opperman. This was an unprecedented move, but due to the responsibilities that the president has and to the late news of the resignation, the decision to ask Fred to return as TAPT president a second time was unanimously approved by the council.

The Conference:

The first activity of the 24^th conference was the TAPT Golf Tournament. This was held Friday afternoon June 13. On Saturday we had our certification courses and ended the day at the Double A Ball Park of the El Paso Diablos.

Sunday we continued with certification courses and at noon opened the vendor area for members to visit. The President reception was held at the Conference Center as a 50’s style Juke Box played tunes, hotdogs were served and old-fashioned ice cream sundaes were made.

President Joe Glover opened the first general session Monday, June 16th. The Keynote speaker was Cleb McClary, a Vietnam Vet and war hero. He spoke on "Keys to Success".

The general sessions were held in the middle of a horseshoe of vendors as we encourage our vendors to be a part of the El Paso Convention. The rest of the day included the Rodeo exam and a Region Education Service Center Coordinators workshop.

TAPT members went to the Indian Reservation on Monday. They ate dinner and "donated money" to the Indian Casino, some made larger donations that others!

Tuesday, June 17th we had three rounds of workshops in the morning and two rounds in the afternoon. There were topics such as: Year Round School, Advertising on Buses, Mock Disasters, Driver Retention, TRS and Your, TEA Update, etc.

The Awards Banquet that evening was 50’s dress with a mix of country and 50’s music to dance to.

Wednesday, June 18^th Don Paull, Pat Raney and Richard Davis were announced as honorees. Scholarship and award recipients were recognized.

The closing speaker was Carlisle Beasley, Transportation Director of Metro Nashville Team.

TASBT

Held as part of the Conference, some of the TASBT classes offered were: A/C Troubleshooting, T444E Maintenance, Wheelchair Restraint Equipment, Troubleshooting brake problems, etc.

They had lunch then repeated the workshops again.

TAPT Officers

96-97

President: Joe Glover

President –elect: Fred Opperman

Secretary: Jonas Ybarra

Treasurer: Marcia Edge

Historian: Ronnie Slemmons

Area Directors: Connie Bean ‘01

Jerry Richard ‘02

Charla Whitley ‘03

Alfred Rath ‘04

Walter Prother ‘05

Exeo Officio: Fred Opperman

Parliamentarian: Bubba Mixon

Executive Secretary: Diane Sherwood

Presidential Assistants: Pat Crone

John Douglas

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